Begonia plant named ‘Dobegicpochamp’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named ‘Dobegicpochamp’, characterized by its upright to spreading and mounded and relatively compact plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; dark greyed green-colored leaves; freely and continuously flowering habit; and medium-sized to large double and single flowers that are creamy white becoming closer to yellow orange in color.

Botanical designation: Begonia boliviensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOBEGICPOCHAMP’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant, botanically known as Begonia boliviensis, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dobegicpochamp’.

The new Begonia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new freely branching and flowering Begonia plants with unique and attractive flower colors and tolerance to high temperatures.

The new Begonia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor during the autumn of 2013 of a selection of Begonia boliviensis identified as code designation BG-1510, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a selection of Begonia boliviensis identified as code designation BG-1511, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Begonia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands during the spring of 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by vegetative tip cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands since the spring of 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dobegicpochamp’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dobegicpochamp’ as a new and distinct Begonia plant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact, upright to spreading and mounded plant         habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely basal branching habit.     -   4. Dark greyed green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely and continuously flowering habit.     -   6. Medium-sized to large double and single flowers that are         creamy white becoming closer to yellow orange in color.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the parent selections. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the parent selections in growth habit as plants of the new Begonia are more uniform than plants of the parent selections.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of Begonia boliviensis ‘Beauvilia White’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of ‘Beauvilia White’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia have larger leaves than plants of         ‘Beauvilia White’.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia have larger flowers than plants of         ‘Beauvilia White’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Begonia face more upright and         outwardly than and not as downward as flowers of plants of         ‘Beauvilia White’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Begonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Begonia plant. The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dobegicpochamp’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements were grown in 12-cm containers during the summer in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 17° C. to 30° C., night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 20° C. and minium light level was 135 watt/m². Plants were ten weeks old when the photograph and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia boliviensis ‘Dobegicpochamp’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Begonia             boliviensis identified as code designation BG-1510, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Begonia             boliviensis identified as code designation BG-1511, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 18 days at             temperatures about 22° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 21 days at             temperatures about 22° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 25 days             at temperatures about 22° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 28 days             at temperatures about 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; whitish grey             in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots; plants of the new Begonia have not been observed to             form tubers.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Upright to spreading and             mounded plant habit; relatively compact; becoming more             pendulous with development; freely basal branching with             about three lateral branches; moderately vigorous growth             habit; moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 20             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 25.5             cm.         -   Plant width.—About 20 cm by 26 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 17 cm. Diameter:             About 9 mm. Internode length: About 2.5 cm. Texture and             luster: Pubescent; somewhat glossy. Strength: Moderately             strong, flexible. Color: Close to 152A; at the internodes,             close to 146A.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:             About 15.5 cm. Width: About 5.5 cm. Shape: Ovate to             lanceolate. Apex: Narrowly acute. Base: Cordate. Margin:             Serrate. Texture and luster, upper surface: Pubescent;             somewhat glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface:             Pubescent; matte. Venation pattern: Palmate; reticulate.             Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N189A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 59A. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N189A; venation,             close to 138A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 184A; venation, close to 184B. Petioles: Length: About             4.8 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; somewhat glossy. Strength:             Moderately strong; flexible. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 152B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Medium-sized to large double and single             flowers arranged in axillary cymes; freely flowering habit             with numerous flowers developing per plant, about nine to             ten open flowers per plant at one time; flowers pendulous             and face outwardly to somewhat downwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about eight             weeks after planting; long flowering period, in the garden             plants flower freely and continuously throughout the summer             in Northern Europe and can be flowered year-round in             greenhouses.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about four weeks             on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 5.8 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 9.2 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.             Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte.             Color: Close to 22A.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 7.2 cm by 7.4 cm. Depth             (height): About 3 cm.         -   Flower tepals.—Quantity per flower and arrangement:             Typically five to eight per flower arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 3 cm. Width: About 3 cm. Shape:             Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Cordate. Margin: Entire.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close             to 155C and 159D. When opening, lower surface: Close to 68C             and close to 4D tinged with close to 37A. Fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 155C; venation, close to 161A;             proximally, color becoming closer to 22A and 29A with             development and fading to close to 155C. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 68C and close to 4D tinged with close to             39B; venation, close to 161A; color becoming closer to 68C             and 39B with development.         -   Flower tepaloids.—Quantity per flower and arrangement:             Typically one to ten per flower arranged in two whorls.             Length: About 2.6 cm. Width: About 1.7 cm. Shape: Obcordate.             Apex: Retuse. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte.             Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close             to 155C and 159D; venation, close to 161A; proximally, color             becoming closer to 22A with development and fading to close             to 155C. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 155C and 159D; venation, close to 161A; proximally, color             becoming closer to 22A with development and fading to close             to 155C.         -   Flower sepals.—Quantity per flower and arrangement:             Typically five per flower arranged in a single whorl.             Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 1.4 cm. Shape: Obcordate.             Apex: Retuse. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; somewhat             glossy. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface:             Close to 144C. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 144B.         -   Flower peduncles.—Length: About 5.5 cm. Diameter: About             5 mm. Angle: Mostly upright, bending with the weight of the             flowers. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster:             Smooth, glabrous; somewhat glossy. Color: Close to 146C.         -   Flower pedicels.—Length: About 3.7 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Aspect: Mostly upright, bending with the weight of the             flower. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster:             Smooth, glabrous; somewhat glossy. Color: Close to 177B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Stamen development has not             been observed on plants of the new Begonia; stamens are all             transformed into tepaloids. Pistils: Quantity of pistils per             flower: Three. Pistil length: About 9 mm. Style length:             About 3 mm. Style color: Close to 9A. Stigma diameter: About             5 mm. Stigma shape: Curled. Stigma color: Close to 13B.             Ovary color: Close to 145A. Fruits and seeds: To date, fruit             and seed development have not been observed on plants of the             new Begonia. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, resistance to pathogens and     pests common to Begonia plants has not been observed on plants of     the new Begonia. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed     to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 10° C. to about 35° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘Dobegicpochamp’ as illustrated and described. 